Well, I'm fairly new to the 5th gen, and OU (considering I dwelled within the NU tier). But with the possibilty of infinite rain without need a Kyogre sparked my interest in a rain dance team. Many pokemon benefit in the rain, and thus with the possibility to control the weather, I would have a pretty good head-start.
Personally, I was trying to mould my team into a well-rounded one, capable of stalling and sweeping. But I lost my footing half-way through team making.
Politoed (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Surf
- Rest
- Toxic
- Perish Song
Comments: I have no idea what a standard Politoed is, so I made one up. Surf for STAB, Perish Song for hazing (or even at the start, so I can make them switch and get a free turn). I have Toxic to stall, and Rest as Politoed has no recovery move. I try to make him survive, as he's my only rain starter. I don't care if he's sleeping, he still makes infinite rain.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic Spikes
- Volt Change
Comments: This is a pretty good set, for me. I don't have many problems, except when D_A's stupid Xatu comes along and bounces back toxic spikes at me. Volt Change is there over Explosion as it acts like a Shed Shell. It gets me away from Shandera setting up subs and Calm Minding until it's as calm as Jesus.
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 208 Atk / 136 SAtk / 164 Spd
Rash Nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
- Signal Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Waterfall
- Draco Meteor
Comments: Kingdra acts as a Mixed Sweeper. Hydro Pump plows through most things, and when Sazandora comes in to revenge it gets OHKO'd by Draco Meteor. It's Swift Swim makes it a very good sweeper. Signal Beam is there for Celebi's, but against other psychics waterfall does more damage. I am thinking of replacing Signal Beam with HP [ElectriC] (for Gyarados) or Rain Dance (for utility).
Starmie @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Recover
Comments: This little star helps with its major speed. Surf and Thunder make on hell of a combo in the rain, and Ice beam for dragons. Recover is for life orb damage.
Pretty happy with this, but I could go for Hydro Pump over Surf, for the power
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Multi-Scale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Hurricane
- Surf
- Roost
Comments: This is actually pretty fun to use in Rain. The new move Hurricane is like Thunder, but flying type, and with the STAB it has 180 base power. Not to mention a chance to confuse the opponent. Dragonite's Hurricane is the only thing that can dent Nattorei, which is kinda sad. Surf and Thunder as it is rain, and Roost for healing life orb damage. Surf doesn't do much, thinking of changing it with a different move, preferably something to take advantage of the dragon type STAB.
Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Comments: Kabutops, I love him. He gets various opportunities to set up against some pokemon, but one wrong move usually results in getting killed by life orb damage. After a Swords Dance Kabutops can sweep using Aqua Jet alone. Waterfall and Stone Edge for STAB, and Aqua Jet for priority. Even though this is a pretty predictable moveset, it is powerful.
This team has secured me alot of wins, despite its many flaws. One thing I have to look out for are weather changers in the late game, where sometimes Politoed is KO'd. Also, I think a wish Vaporeon could greatly improve my team, being able to give life to Kabutops when he's got low health. Another option was a Hydration stall, which again, Vaporeon could fill the slot. Hydration in rain is a pretty unstoppable combo, so I'm eager to implement it into my team.
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The end, so please rate and critique
Personally, I was trying to mould my team into a well-rounded one, capable of stalling and sweeping. But I lost my footing half-way through team making.
Team Building
Spoiler:
The Team
Politoed (M) @ Leftovers Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Surf
- Rest
- Toxic
- Perish Song
Comments: I have no idea what a standard Politoed is, so I made one up. Surf for STAB, Perish Song for hazing (or even at the start, so I can make them switch and get a free turn). I have Toxic to stall, and Rest as Politoed has no recovery move. I try to make him survive, as he's my only rain starter. I don't care if he's sleeping, he still makes infinite rain.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic Spikes
- Volt Change
Comments: This is a pretty good set, for me. I don't have many problems, except when D_A's stupid Xatu comes along and bounces back toxic spikes at me. Volt Change is there over Explosion as it acts like a Shed Shell. It gets me away from Shandera setting up subs and Calm Minding until it's as calm as Jesus.
Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 208 Atk / 136 SAtk / 164 Spd
Rash Nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
- Signal Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Waterfall
- Draco Meteor
Comments: Kingdra acts as a Mixed Sweeper. Hydro Pump plows through most things, and when Sazandora comes in to revenge it gets OHKO'd by Draco Meteor. It's Swift Swim makes it a very good sweeper. Signal Beam is there for Celebi's, but against other psychics waterfall does more damage. I am thinking of replacing Signal Beam with HP [ElectriC] (for Gyarados) or Rain Dance (for utility).
Starmie @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Thunder
- Ice Beam
- Recover
Comments: This little star helps with its major speed. Surf and Thunder make on hell of a combo in the rain, and Ice beam for dragons. Recover is for life orb damage.
Pretty happy with this, but I could go for Hydro Pump over Surf, for the power
Dragonite (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Multi-Scale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Hurricane
- Surf
- Roost
Comments: This is actually pretty fun to use in Rain. The new move Hurricane is like Thunder, but flying type, and with the STAB it has 180 base power. Not to mention a chance to confuse the opponent. Dragonite's Hurricane is the only thing that can dent Nattorei, which is kinda sad. Surf and Thunder as it is rain, and Roost for healing life orb damage. Surf doesn't do much, thinking of changing it with a different move, preferably something to take advantage of the dragon type STAB.
Kabutops (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Comments: Kabutops, I love him. He gets various opportunities to set up against some pokemon, but one wrong move usually results in getting killed by life orb damage. After a Swords Dance Kabutops can sweep using Aqua Jet alone. Waterfall and Stone Edge for STAB, and Aqua Jet for priority. Even though this is a pretty predictable moveset, it is powerful.
Final Comments
This team has secured me alot of wins, despite its many flaws. One thing I have to look out for are weather changers in the late game, where sometimes Politoed is KO'd. Also, I think a wish Vaporeon could greatly improve my team, being able to give life to Kabutops when he's got low health. Another option was a Hydration stall, which again, Vaporeon could fill the slot. Hydration in rain is a pretty unstoppable combo, so I'm eager to implement it into my team.
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The end, so please rate and critique
